Theater companies plan so far in advance that they never know exactly how a show will resonate when it finally gets on stage. The timing seems just right, though, for “Two Degrees,” which weaves climate change issues into the story of a researcher’s own personal upheavals. The work was developed at the Denver Center’s in-house Colorado New Play Summit and is so connected to current events that playwright Tira Palmquist is retooling the words right now to reflect evolving political dialogue. Info: denvercenter.org.

Feb. 11-May 7, The MCA’s landmark look at early Basquiat

The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver authors an important and so far unwritten chapter in American art with the exhibit “Basquiat Before Basquiat: East 12th Street, 1979-1980.” Jean-Michel Basquiat — who went from tagging graffiti on Lower Manhattan streets to showing expressionist paintings at the Whitney before dying in 1988 at the age of 27 — remains one of the 20th century’s most enigmatic geniuses and this show looks at the time when he was developing his voice. It’s sure to get international attention. Info: mcadenver.org.

Feb. 19-Oct. 22, DAM digs in with “Mi Tierra”

The Denver Art Museum’s contemporary art department is back in full swing now that curator Rebecca R. Hart has had time to get her feet on the ground and “Mi Tierra: Contemporary Artists Explore Place” is her first big move. Thirteen Latino artists will each install a piece exploring their ideas about living in the Western United States. Participants include rising names in the field, like L.A.’s Ramiro Gomez, Austin’s Xochi Solis and Denver’s Dmitri Obergfell. Info: denverartmuseum.org.

Opera Colorado, known for a quarter-century for presenting larger-than-life classical music warhorses, tries something completely different with composer Laura Kaminsky’s “As One.” The piece, which premiered in 2014, uses just two singers and a string quartet and chronicles the journey of a transgender woman as she “endeavors to resolve the discord between herself and the outside world.” The small chamber opera goes to a smaller venue, the performing arts complex at the Pinnacle Charter School in way North Denver. Info: operacolorado.org.

March and April, Month of Photography

Denver’s Month of Photography comes around every two years filling virtually every inch of wall space in the region with the work of photographers near and far. The RedLine art center is the official host, but just about all local museums and galleries pull out the stops, with off-beat venues in the mix, ranging from the State Capitol to Cake Crumbs bakery to Children’s Hospital. There’s a list of attractions, which seems to grow everyday, on the website. Info: mopdenver.com.

April 9-July 16, DAM and CSM team up to show Mark Bradford

The Denver Art Museum and the Clifford Still Museum share more than a property line in the Golden Triangle. They also have terrific abstract expressionist collections that will serve as a filter for showing Mark Bradford’s skills to the city. Bradford is on one the most in-demand contemporary painters today and traces his inspirational roots back to the late Clyfford Still’s 20th century masterpieces. “Shade: Clyfford Still / Mark Bradford” will have DAM exhibiting his recent paintings alongside some masterpieces from its own collection. Concurrently, the Still will have a show of Clyfford Still paintings curated by Bradford himself. Info: denverartmuseum.org.

Late summer, The Biennial of the America’s returns

This every-other-year event is set for a big comeback in 2017. Details are still being worked out, but expect a week-long, city-wide exploration of art, culture, politics, business and more, all filling the organization’s mission of helping people across the Western Hemisphere share their best ideas and strategies (and, hopefully, some of their best music). The biennial has serious partners this go-round in both the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Denver Art Museum, so the quality should be high. Info: biennialoftheamericas.org.

Sept. 9, Brett Mitchell’s big CSO moment

The Colorado Symphony Orchestra welcomes its new music director, Brett Mitchell, with a showy kickoff, a season-starting concert featuring opera superstar Renée Fleming as the special guest. All eyes, and ears, will be on Mitchell, who at just 37, was hired to replace Andrew Litton this year, becoming one of the youngest maestros to lead a major orchestra. Info: coloradosymphony.org.

Mid-September, Denver Center’s Space Theater reopens

The Denver Center’s renovation of its most interesting venue, the Space Theater, is set for completion just in time for the start of its 2017-18 season. The new venue will keep its trademark, in-the-round set up, but promises to be even more intimate, dropping from 550 seats to 416. The project, funded by a $10 million present from Better Denver bond funds, will make the place more flexible and more accessible to all audiences. Be on the lookout for upcoming programming announcements. Info: denvercenter.org.

Mid-November, the Kirkland Museum reopens

The Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art takes its rightful place as one of the city’s major cultural institutions with a move from its cramped, Capitol Hill headquarters to a shiny, new building in the Golden Triangle museum district. The Kirkland’s still-growing collection of art and decorative objects is unrivaled in the West and its new home, clad in colorful tiles and designed by architect Jim Olson, promises to be a city landmark. The exact opening date depends on the construction schedule but — so far, anyway — things are moving along nicely. Info: kirklandmuseum.org.

Workers with Mammoth Moving and Rigging carefully turn the 106 year old Kirkland Art Studio from East 13th avenue onto Broadway on November 6, 2016 in Denver. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)